Preparation of stockings for marketing



p 16 1941. A VAUHAN' 1- AL 2,25 ,8

PREPARATION OF STOCKINGS FOR MARKETING Filed Aug. 5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet1 A TTORNEYS.

p 1941- A. E. VAUGHAN EI'AL 2,255,836 PREPARATION OF STOCKIENGS FdRMARKETING Filed Aug. 5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 YNVENT-OR5: v findrewElVzban )3! ATTORNEYS.

findreu/ 1 Viz BY Patented Sept. 16, 1941 MARKETIN Andrew E.Vaugh'an andAndrew Vaughan, Jr.,

'Pottstown; Pa., assignorsto The Vaughan Knitting Company; Pottstown,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 5, 1939, SerialNo. 288,592 11 Claims. o1. 22a 76) This invention relates to thepreparation of stockings for marketing, and it is concerned not onlywith the prepared articles, but also with the method of preparation andwith apparatus or devices designed for the carrying out. of the method.l

Ordinarily stockings are pressed flat'in the plane of their front andrearlongitudinals to show their side profiles, and marked forsize-according to foot length. From a stocking prepared in this way, itis impossible for the purchaser to get any idea as to the exact planarea and shape of the stocking foot, and the selection of the propersize other than by number is consequently made difiicult. This isparticularly true in connection with infant's hosiery where theselection of stockings or. socks of adequate foot size is of primeimportance.

Our invention has for its chief aim to overcome the above. drawbacks,which objective we realize in practice as hereinafter more fullydisclosed, by flat pressing the leg. and the foot respectively in theplanes of their side longitudinals, with incidental indentation of thefabric at opposite sides of the angle, and thereafter folding the legabout a line crosswise of the ankle, down upon the foot. Thus, forexample, in an infants sock prepared for marketing according to ourinvention, the full plan areaof the foot is shown at one side of thepackage, and

the transverse width of the leg at the other side, so that selectionforcorrect size may be made with the utmost facility.

Another object of our invention'is to provide a simple device orapparatus suitable for the practice of the new method. As also morefully disclosed in detail hereinafter, the means devised for thispurpose includes a suitably heated mounting form component over whichthe stocking or sock is stretched, said component having a "transverselyflattened leg portion joined to a transversely-flattened foot portion ina vertical plane somewhat inward of the heel end of the foot; and apresser component including pad block elements which are configured tocorrespond with depressions in opposite sides of the ankle portion ofthe mounting form component, and which by coaction with said depressionspredetermine the production of inward accordion folds at the ankleregions of the stocking or sock.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the followingdetailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig, I is aperspective view of an infants stocking or sock pressed in accordancewith our invention. and

ready forfolding. 1

Figs; II and III show the opposite sides of the pressed article afterfolding.

Fig. IV is, a view in side elevation of a stockingshaping devicesuitable; for carrying out our new method.

Fig. V is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewof the device. I c

Fig. VI is a horizontal section viewed asindicated by the-angled arrowsVI-VI in Figs. IV and-V. 1

Fig. VII is a fragmentary cross section taken as indicated by the arrowsVlI--VII in Figs. 'IV and V; and e Y Fig. VIII isa fragmentaryperspective view of the mounting form component of the device.-

In accordance with our invention, a stocking or sock S is prepared formarketing after the manner illustratedin Fig. I of the drawings, that isto say, the foot F and the leg Lare pressed fiat respectivelyin theplanes of theirside longitudinals,. with incidental indentation of thefabric at opposite sides at the region of ankle juncture as at B, theindentations being so proportioned and configured as to defineinwardlycollapsing accordion folds as shown. After pressing of thestocking or sock S as explained, the leg L is folded along a transverseline M extending crosswise of the instep, down upon the foot F.. Fromthis procedure results a neat, flat and compact package in which, 'seeFigs.'II and III, the exact shape and plan area of the foot F is exposedto view at one side or face, and the full transverse area. of the leg Lat the other. With stockings or socks S so prepared-it will be evident.

method consists of two components,' to' wit: a mounting form componentwhich is comprehensively designated by the numeral I in Figs. IV-VIII,and a presser component which is similarly designated by the numeral 2.As shown, the mounting form component I has a leg portion 3 of flatshape-edged cross section arranged transversely of, and connectingintegrally through an common practiceinthe art.

portion 4, the mounting form component [has depressions 8 defined bymeeting plane surfaces wa id iesn ce 9, 10, II which extend angularly" ptively from the corresponding es..;of the.f@'t portion and the front andrear'faces 6 and 1 r of said ankle portion, the front or instep surface6 being provided with a crosswise-extendingscora common point; and apresser component in cluding oppositely influenced block elementsconfigured to fit the depressions in the mounting form component. 7

2. A stocking shaping device comprising a mounting form component withafoot portion, aleg portion and a connecting anlcleportion, over whichthe stocking is drawn, and with depressions ,in opposite sides of itsankle portion; and a pressin In the oppos t side nfi sanlst er componentincluding a pair of pad block elementswhichare configured to fit thedepressions ing groove l2. The mounting form component lis constructedhollow throughout as shown in V and .VII so that it maybe iheated fromwithin by circulation of steam thrcugh' it', or-hy an electric heatinginserted it .af ter *The pressericomponenit zfoflthe shaping deviceincludes a pair of padeblocktelements :lfi of which the inner sides areconfigured to accurately-fit the za'tcppos te sides of the mounting formcompo- 'n 1?. -%nd,YieldingmeanS for pressing the pad QbLOQkclem'entsiinto-said depressions.

Astdcking shaping device according to claim 2, in the "mounting formcomponent is heated.

4. -Astcck-in-g shaping device according to claim 2. in which themounting form component is hollow for capacity to be heated from within.5. Astocking shaping :device accordingtc claim 2, in which :the padJelock elements of the presser component are carried an interpivotedgrasp handle, andwh'ereinxthe yielding means consists of .a spring*Whifihisinfiut-Mtifil upon said handles. 6. A stocking shaping devicaccording to claim 2,-in which each of the depressions'at oppositedepressions :8 .at opposite .sidesiof the Ifi ount n form component I,as shown inFigsuVIand- VII. In i the illustrated instance, .the blocks Mare integrally. formed with a pair ofmanipulatinghandles l4 which areinterpivoted at [Sandinifilw enced by; a relatively strong compressionspring I 6 .whicht'ends to'maintain said blocks yieldingly but firmlyengaged within the depressions a -oft he momitingv'formiconiponentExtending crosswise zbetween iithfi tier-ward extensionall \ofthemanipulating handles 14 .isa l scoring member --I 8 in the :form ofathelical tension spring whereof the ends are engagedwith'.anchorage-studs 19. With the parts assembled as shown Fig-s. V andthe :spring. I3 registers with the scoring grcove l2 of'thegmountingform component ii;

In the use ofv the shapingczdevice, thestocking or'sock S is. drawnloverthe: heated mounting form component 1 as shown :in .Fig. "Thepresser component? is then ap lied asshown inFigs.1Vi andiVII :Withitspad blocks :13 pressingthe s'tocke ing fabric inwardiat-the sidesintothe depressions 8 andithe scoring memberrm displacing the instepfabric inward slightly at the scoring groove 12.

Under.- the action .of the heat ithestocking-orsock S.iscricdandashapedtothe configuratiomoi the meunting form componentLand,- when removed; appears as shown in Fig.1 mthits feet nndrleg' es,with the inward accordion some 23 cat region of, the junctureofetheifcot' Randrtheieg 1,1; nd with. atransvcrse scoringline'Mcrosswise above. "the instepabout :Whiflh lthelegjiLzis sub;

.segnently folded down :iiat upon the :foot 1E .as

latter rover wh -Qh'gthe stocking ;is.drawn,-;said

nkle portion having depressions in thej.op'posite sides defined-byplural :lines which intersect at;

sisdesof the mounting form component is-defined by-ithr'ee meeting planesurfaces. v 1

+7.15 .stocking'zform'according to claim 2, in which :the :frontzandrear faces of the ankleportion ofthe mounting form .component are flatand diverge in merging the ifootmortion, and in which each ofithe sidedepressions is defined by meeting .plane' surfaces which :extend-.inwardly atan angle respectively from the corresponding side edge ofthe foot and from the side edges of the front and rear surfaces of theankle :portion.

'8. A stockingrshaping "device. according to claim 2, in which al rooveextends crosswise .of the front of the ankle portion -.of themountingform component; and inwhich positioned an extensiblemember extending.vchess-wise'iaetween the pad -.b lo ck elements of ithezpressercomponent to 0 Produce a feldzcreasecrosswise cf' thesankle porofsubstantially -.flat;and :hollow cross section arranged transversely ofand connecting, through a widening ankle portion; with afoot portionofsimilarcross-section; and depressionsin the oppo-v ite sides ef-saiclankle pcrtion.

10. A hosiery shaping form according to claim 9, in "whi h. theiront and:rear surfaces of the ankl por ion 531 .176 hat. and in which a scorinoo x ends. osswise of the: front of the-ankle portion. p; h f

inn l csiery ha ing form accordin to claim 9, in which the iront andrear surfaces of the ankle portion; are flat, in which eachof the sidedepressions is defined by meeting plane surfaces which extend inwardlyat an angle respectively fr'omthe corresponding sideledge ofthefootportiOfI and the correspcnding .side edges of the front andrearsurface's of the ankle portion, .and a scoring'grooveextendscrosswiseof the'front of the ankle'portion.

7 E. VAUGHAN.

' ANDREW E. VAUGHAN, J-R.

